Form P20 (BC): Notice of Dispute, Explained

What it is: the emergency brake on a BC probate application. Filing a Notice of Dispute prevents the registry from issuing an estate grant while the dispute stands — used when someone believes the will is invalid, the applicant is the wrong person, or there's another genuine problem.

Who can file: a person with a legal interest in the estate — for example a beneficiary under this or a prior will, or an intestate successor.

What it does: while in effect (generally one year, extendable by the court), no grant issues. It doesn't decide anything by itself — it holds the door shut so the underlying issue can be addressed, usually by negotiation or a court proceeding.

How to actually do it:

1. Be sure you have real grounds — a dispute filed for leverage can carry cost consequences.
2. Complete the P20 and file it at the probate registry before the grant issues.
3. Get legal advice promptly — the one-year clock pushes the matter toward resolution.

If you're the executor facing one: don't distribute anything; get advice. The estate is effectively frozen at the grant stage until the dispute is withdrawn, expires, or the court rules.

Where to get it: official version via the BC government's wills & estates pages: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/wills-estates

Foxglove is a guide, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice; forms and rules change — confirm current requirements with the Supreme Court of BC, the official BC government forms page, or a qualified BC professional. Find vetted BC help →